Optical sensing arrays employing misaligned squinted optical axes compared to aligned axes
First Claim
1. A method of operating an optical sensing array for controlling the acceptance angle of light beams which are iteratively strobed in cycles from a plurality of light transmitters in side-by-side channels toward a plurality of light receivers which are associated with respective channels and are adapted to sense the light beams for producing signals, the method comprising the steps of directing the light beam in a first one of the channels along a first axis which is squinted relative to a second axis along which the light beam in at least a second one of the channels is strobed, producing a signal V1 responsive to light being sensed by the light receiver associated with the first channel, producing a signal V2 responsive to light being sensed by the light receiver associated with the second channel, establishing a predetermined high amplitude value VH, establishing a predetermined low amplitude value VL which is below VH, comparing the ratio V1 /V2 to a ratio VH /VL, and producing an output signal responsive to V1 /V2 >
- VH /VL.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical sensing array and method of operation for controlling the acceptance angle of light beams which are iteratively strobed in side-by-side channels between light transmitters and light receivers. The light beams in at least a pair of channels are directed along axes which are intentionally mispointed or squinted. A control circuit measures the amplitudes of signals produced responsive to light being received by the light receivers and compares the ratio of those amplitudes to the ratio of predetermined high and low amplitude values which provide a threshold window. When the ratio of the signal amplitudes exceeds the ratio of the window threshold values, an output signal is produced indicative of an unsafe operating condition. The control circuit further maintains the gain of the signals from the light receivers to stay within the range of the predetermined window threshold values.
23 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A method of operating an optical sensing array for controlling the acceptance angle of light beams which are iteratively strobed in cycles from a plurality of light transmitters in side-by-side channels toward a plurality of light receivers which are associated with respective channels and are adapted to sense the light beams for producing signals, the method comprising the steps of directing the light beam in a first one of the channels along a first axis which is squinted relative to a second axis along which the light beam in at least a second one of the channels is strobed, producing a signal V1 responsive to light being sensed by the light receiver associated with the first channel, producing a signal V2 responsive to light being sensed by the light receiver associated with the second channel, establishing a predetermined high amplitude value VH, establishing a predetermined low amplitude value VL which is below VH, comparing the ratio V1 /V2 to a ratio VH /VL, and producing an output signal responsive to V1 /V2 >
- 14. An optical sensing array system for controlling the acceptance angle of light beams, the system comprising the combination of a light transmitter having a plurality of light transmitter elements, a light receiver having a plurality of light receiving elements which are arrayed across the optical sensing array from respective ones of the light transmitter elements, means for iteratively strobing light beams from the light transmitter elements in side-by-side channels toward the light receiver elements, beam squinting means for causing the light beam in a first one of the channels to be directed toward the respective light receiving element in the first channel along a first axis which is squinted relative to a second axis along which the light beam in at least a second one of the channels is strobed, means for producing a signal V1 responsive to light being sensed by the light receiver element of the first channel, means for producing a signal V2 responsive to light being sensed by the light receiver element of the second channel, means for establishing a predetermined high amplitude value VH and a predetermined low amplitude value VL which is below V.sub. H, means for comparing the ratio V1 /V2 to the ratio VH /VL, and means for producing an output signal responsive to V1 /V2 >
Specification